Ladera Ranch Veterans Day 2026: A Kid-Started Tradition Comes Back to Town Green
Hey there!
Ladera Ranch Veterans Day is this Wednesday, and it is one of my FAVORITE community events of the whole year.
Here is the short version: the gathering is Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at Town Green (28801 Sienna Parkway), from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. Admission is Free.
It is organized by Lion's Heart Group 2029, a group of local high school student volunteers, and it is all about honoring and thanking our local Ladera Ranch veterans and their families.
How did Ladera Ranch Veterans Day get started?
It started with six boys, ages 11 and 12, who decided our community needed a Veterans Day ceremony. And they made it happen!
Back in 2018, the boys of Lion's Heart Group 2025 raised their own money to buy bunting for the gazebo at Town Green. They borrowed one flag for each branch of the armed services from local military recruiters and veterans. When the ceremony began, the boys explained each branch themselves (the history, the mission) and then asked the veterans in the audience from that branch to stand and be recognized.
LaderaLife described it as the first Veterans Day ceremony ever held in Ladera Ranch, one the boys "conceived, organized and led." There were refreshments, and every veteran got an American flag pin.
I LOVE how simple it was. No fancy equipment. Just kids who cared, and neighbors who served sitting right there in the crowd.
A flyover in honor of Sara Vuoso
Here is a little insider story I want every neighbor to know. One of the moms who helped those original Lion's Heart boys get the very first ceremony off the ground was Sara Veoso.
Sara was an Air Force veteran herself, and she was a big part of why this tradition exists at all.
Sara passed away earlier this year from cancer. It was her dream to have a military flyover at the Ladera Ranch Veterans Day event, and this year the group was able to secure a flyover in her honor. When you look up at the sky over Town Green on Wednesday, take a moment to think of Sara. What a beautiful way to remember someone who gave so much to this community!
Flyovers can depend on weather and military/government schedules, so the exact timing is not guaranteed.
It was never a one-time thing
Those same boys also made blankets for people in need, helped at a special needs basketball program, joined beach cleanups and collected toiletries for homeless veterans. The Veterans Day ceremony came out of a habit of giving back. That is the kind of thing that makes me proud to live here.
How has the tradition kept going as the kids grew up?
The tradition keeps going because Lion's Heart passes projects from one grade group to the next.
Lion's Heart is a teen volunteer and leadership organization for students in grades 6 through 12. Members are grouped by grade, each group picks its own service projects, and teens run the show as elected officers. So when an older group heads off to college, a younger group can pick up the torch.
That is exactly what happened here:
2018: Group 2025 starts the very first ceremony at Town Green.
2024: Group 2025 is still running it
2025: Group 2029 takes over as host.
2026: Group 2029 is back as organizer.
What is Voices of Valor, and how can I watch it?
Voices of Valor is an Eagle Scout project by Ladera Ranch resident Liam Megerian: seven videos honoring seven Ladera Ranch veterans.
Ladera Ranch resident and Eagle Scout Liam Megerian will also attend. Through his Voices of Valor project, Liam created seven videos honoring seven Ladera Ranch veterans, preserving their stories and recognizing their service.
Take a moment to hear their stories before joining us on Veterans Day. Watch the Voices of Valor videos on YouTube.
A personal note from me
This one is close to my heart. As a Navy veteran, I was honored when Liam asked to interview me, and I am one of the veterans featured in the Voices of Valor videos! Sitting down with a young man from our own community who wanted to hear our stories meant SO much. Liam, thank you. What you built will outlast all of us.
If you want to know a little more about my own background, you can read it on my About page.
How do I order a Tribute Sign for a veteran?
You can honor a veteran in your family by ordering a Tribute Sign through a short Google Form, and it will be displayed at Town Green on Veterans Day.
Honor a Ladera Ranch veteran by ordering a Tribute Sign to be displayed at the Veterans Day event. It's a meaningful way to recognize their service and share your appreciation with the community.
The original ceremony asked veterans to stand up in the crowd. The signs widen that circle. You can honor a veteran who has passed away, lives across the country, or would just rather not stand up in front of the gazebo (totally fair!).
What you'll need for the form
The form asks for:
The veteran's first and last name
Rank
Branch (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard or Other)
Years served
An email for a point of contact (optional)
There is no photo upload, so the sign is built from those details only. Get the exact rank and years first. In a lot of families, that means a quick call to Mom, Dad or Grandpa, or digging through old papers.
There is no posted deadline, but the event is THIS Wednesday and these student volunteers need time to make each sign. Please submit as soon as you can!
Local insight: why this event feels so Ladera
Town Green is right in the heart of the community, the gazebo is the perfect backdrop, and so many of our neighbors have served. You will see grandparents in their old unit hats, little kids waving flags, and teens running the whole thing. It is a weekday, so it might be a smaller crowd than the 4th of July, but that is part of what makes it feel so personal.
If you love events like this, I share a lot of them over on my Ladera Ranch blog.
Why work with a local expert who lives here
I live in Ladera Ranch, I show up to these events, and I know this community from the inside. When you are thinking about buying or selling here, it helps to have someone who knows more than square footage. I know which villages are close to Town Green, where the parks and pools are, and what a Wednesday morning in Ladera actually feels like. And as a fellow veteran, I always have a soft spot for military families making a move!
FAQ: Ladera Ranch Veterans Day
What time is the Ladera Ranch Veterans Day ceremony?
The event runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and the ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. Plan to arrive a little early to find parking and a good spot near the gazebo.
Where is the Ladera Ranch Veterans Day event held?
It is at Town Green, 28801 Sienna Parkway, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694. This is the same spot where the very first ceremony was held in 2018.
Is the Ladera Ranch Veterans Day ceremony free?
Admission is FREE
Who organizes the Veterans Day ceremony in Ladera Ranch?
Lion's Heart Group 2029, a group of local student volunteers, is organizing this year. The tradition was started in 2019 by Lion's Heart Group 2025.
How do I get a Tribute Sign for a veteran in my family?
Fill out the short Tribute Sign Google Form with the veteran's name, rank, branch and years served. The sign will be displayed at Town Green on Veterans Day, so submit it as early as you can.
Will there be a flyover at the Ladera Ranch Veterans Day ceremony?
Yes, a flyover has been secured this year in honor of Sara Veoso, an Air Force veteran and one of the moms who helped start the event. Flyovers can shift with weather and military schedules, so the exact timing is not guaranteed.
Where can I watch the Voices of Valor videos?
They are on the Voices of Valor YouTube channel. Eagle Scout Liam Megerian created seven videos honoring seven Ladera Ranch veterans.
To every veteran in our community, thank you. I will see you at Town Green on Wednesday! And whenever you are thinking about buying or selling, I am always here to help with anything Ladera Ranch. Come say hi at Ladera Ranch Veterans Day, or reach out anytime through my website.
Thanks! Taylor
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